Trinity vs Reigate Grammar vs RGS Guildford

[Hokilaris]

Hi,
Would appreciate any insights and feedback from the above schools. DS has been v fortunate to receive offers from them - each were our target schools! All will involve travel, although Guildford will be quickest as it is train instead of school bus. Keen to know how supportive the schools are and quality of teaching. Maybe because we are in disbelief to receive offers, keen to know if it is an all through to A levels or will there be other hurdles? Any sets for the lessons? Pastoral care? DS is a keen participant for sports but not sporty. He is more musical, playing 2 instruments. We will be revisiting each school on offer holders day as genuinely confused. Thank you!

Congratulations! What wonderful offers you have. I'd like to know more about Reigate Grammar as well as my DD also received offer there.

RGS has excellent pastoral care and is a lovely all round school. The standard of teaching is excellent, music is a big thing in the school (not something my DC did) and sport is a much higher standard than we expected. Neither of my DS had any pressure put on them to achieve certain grades to go to 6th form.
I would think any of the schools are a great choice, ease of location is always an important factor.

Hi @sazzy5 thank you so much for your reply. Can I check this is RGS Guildford? As Reigate gets referred to as RGS by themselves!

Oh yes sorry Guildford. Honestly you can’t go wrong with those choices.

I know this is an old post but we're knee deep in the process at the moment and I was wondering which school you decided on and why?

Hi @blobodob , all 3 schools were our target schools so you wouldnt go wrong with any of them. But we went with RGS Guildford in the end and have been so impressed with them. My son is so happy there and absolutely thriving. The teaching quality is out of this world and the environment the school has created has somehow motivated my son to be the best version of himself- all with positivity, no pressure, active participation in anything he is interested in.

We chose RGS Guildford as we were so impressed in the Offers Holders day. They had boys on stage to answer any questions and they were all so impressive - happy and smart. Also RGS Guildford is the only school out of the 3 that backs themselves in their selection process. They stand by the children they have brought in and will not filter out post GCSE irregardless of exam grades. Filtering out post GCSE or doing things like asking students to sit their exams in external exam centres are common tricks that many private schools do to chase after ranking. I have found the family feel and kindness in RGS Guildford was real in that sense. It would have felt wrong to take our money in all those years and be asked to leave if we didnt meet some criteria. I spoke to each of the 3 school headteachers and read through all sorts of detailed documents on their website and also found performance in the relevant subjects my son would be interested in is much higher in RGSG. Leavers destination was another reason. Their most common university destination in the last decade is Oxbridge - averaging 20-25% each year = 30 offers last year! Most of the private schools near us would be happy with a third or half of that.

The commute is also the easiest for my son and have been enjoyable. The train is fast and is almost half the time of the school coaches of the others despite RGSG being geographically furthest. There are also lots of co-ed opportunities with 3 other girls schools in the Guildford area - from socials, school trips together, joint concerts, some subjecfs taught jointly.

Hope this helps. I obviously only have RGSG to comment on. I do think all 3 schools are brilliant and I know so many glowing reports from the other 2 as well. I was just explaining our personal decision making process. Please do DM if I can help any further.